Mwangi Mukundi and Abigael Wanjiku Reign at the 2014 Henry Wanyoike Run

7th June 2014… Administration Police (AP) 5,000m record holder Mwangi Mukundi won the eighth edition of the Safaricom sponsored Henry Wanyoike  “Hope for the Future Run” 7km road race in Kikuyu Township at the weekend.

The Nyahururu based Mukundi who is making a comeback after a one and half year absence from an injury breasted the tape at 23:50.01 to make a positive return in competitive running to bag Sh20,000 winner's purse. Abigael Wanjiku from Nakuru improved from her fifth place finish in 2012 to win the women’s race by stopping the timer in 27:22.03 ahead of second placed Lydia Njeri  in 28:15.06 as Mary Mwaniki was third by clocking 28:44.07.

Sammy Karanja was second in the men’s race by timing 23:55.10 as Charles Kemeli completed the last podium finish in 24:00.00 to have each pocket Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 prize money for the second and third place finishers respectively. Mukundi said he was using the event to prepare for the new road race season which begins next month saying the win has boosted his morale ahead of international events next season.

 “Athletics is the heart of Kenyan sports and by merging it with community we stand to do great things and this is why we are proud to sponsor this run in 2014. Mukundi and Abigail have dedicated their time and effort to this sport and the results are paying off. Now we need to take it to the next level and we will see them flying our flag high” said Erick Achola Head of department Brand Safaricom.

The chief guest the British High Commissioner in Kenya Christian Turner for the second successive year participated in the 7km run together with the race’s patron World 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Henry Wanyoike, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatsangi and area Deputy Governor Gerald Githinji.

Telecommunications company Safaricom under the Safaricom Athletics Series banner sponsored the event to a tune of Sh1.5 million that attracted 10,000 runners in 17 different categories.

Founder of the Marathon Henry Wanyoike said “the primary objective of the run is to fund raise for Henry Wanyoike Foundation projects, which bring together the community to integrate, promote sports and healthy living as well as to motivate the youth and physically challenged to be steadfast and hopeful.

The run also creates awareness on healthy living through sports. It particularly promotes the fight against drug use amongst children and youth in the region as well as train them against vices that lead to HIV/aids and teenage pregnancies, amongst school going children which eventually help in reducing dropouts and crime.

Out of these races the Henry Wanyoike Foundation has been able to raise funds and run some projects.

It has been able to provide capital to poor families for different income generating projects.

Donations of foodstuff, clothes, stationery and mobility aids to different groups such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans and vulnerable children, physically disabled (students in Thika and Machakos schools for the blind) among others.

7th June 2014… Administration Police (AP) 5,000m record holder Mwangi Mukundi won the eighth edition of the Safaricom sponsored Henry Wanyoike  “Hope for the Future Run” 7km road race in Kikuyu Township at the weekend.

The Nyahururu based Mukundi who is making a comeback after a one and half year absence from an injury breasted the tape at 23:50.01 to make a positive return in competitive running to bag Sh20,000 winner's purse. Abigael Wanjiku from Nakuru improved from her fifth place finish in 2012 to win the women’s race by stopping the timer in 27:22.03 ahead of second placed Lydia Njeri  in 28:15.06 as Mary Mwaniki was third by clocking 28:44.07.

Sammy Karanja was second in the men’s race by timing 23:55.10 as Charles Kemeli completed the last podium finish in 24:00.00 to have each pocket Sh15,000 and Sh10,000 prize money for the second and third place finishers respectively. Mukundi said he was using the event to prepare for the new road race season which begins next month saying the win has boosted his morale ahead of international events next season.

 “Athletics is the heart of Kenyan sports and by merging it with community we stand to do great things and this is why we are proud to sponsor this run in 2014. Mukundi and Abigail have dedicated their time and effort to this sport and the results are paying off. Now we need to take it to the next level and we will see them flying our flag high” said Erick Achola Head of department Brand Safaricom.

The chief guest the British High Commissioner in Kenya Christian Turner for the second successive year participated in the 7km run together with the race’s patron World 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Henry Wanyoike, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatsangi and area Deputy Governor Gerald Githinji.

Telecommunications company Safaricom under the Safaricom Athletics Series banner sponsored the event to a tune of Sh1.5 million that attracted 10,000 runners in 17 different categories.

Founder of the Marathon Henry Wanyoike said “the primary objective of the run is to fund raise for Henry Wanyoike Foundation projects, which bring together the community to integrate, promote sports and healthy living as well as to motivate the youth and physically challenged to be steadfast and hopeful.

The run also creates awareness on healthy living through sports. It particularly promotes the fight against drug use amongst children and youth in the region as well as train them against vices that lead to HIV/aids and teenage pregnancies, amongst school going children which eventually help in reducing dropouts and crime.

Out of these races the Henry Wanyoike Foundation has been able to raise funds and run some projects.

It has been able to provide capital to poor families for different income generating projects.

Donations of foodstuff, clothes, stationery and mobility aids to different groups such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans and vulnerable children, physically disabled (students in Thika and Machakos schools for the blind) among others.